Start with operating cash flow
Understand how much cash the existing business generates after normal operating costs and before adding a new financing commitment.
Include existing finance
Loans, leases, equipment finance, credit cards and other scheduled commitments reduce the cash available for a new facility.
Stress the assumptions
Consider what happens if revenue is lower than forecast, a major debtor pays late, margin falls or a project is delayed. A repayment plan should not depend on every assumption being perfect.
Match facility structure to purpose
A short-term working-capital need and a multi-year investment do not necessarily suit the same repayment profile. The commercial terms need to match the cash-generation timeline.
Forecast cash, not just accounting profit
Business.gov.au notes that a cash-flow forecast helps estimate whether income will cover future costs and can help a business plan for shortages and surpluses.
Official source
General information only. This page does not constitute legal, tax, financial or credit advice. SME Capital Partners is in pre-launch and is not currently offering or approving credit through this website.